Color printer for isotope scanner

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for isotope diagnosis or scanner has a probe for ray measuring by means of which the section being examined is checked line by line and the measured results are reproduced upon a writing material by means of a color scriber containing a printing type. A colored band with differently colored longitudinal strips located next to each other is moved longitudinally and transversely under the printing type so that markings of different colors are imprinted depending upon the results of the measurement. The invention is particularly characterized by only a mechanically sliding connection of the movable parts of the writing means with the band-moving drives attached to fixed supports, the drive of the printer of markings and the switches for varying the direction of movement of the band.

United States Patent Inventor Winiried Platz Erlangen, Germany Appl. No. 788,721 Filed Jan. 3, 1969 Patented Nov. 23, 1971 Assignee Siemens Aktiengesellschait Erlangen, Germany Priority Jan. 8, 1968 Germany P 16 16 113.0

COLOR PRINTER FOR ISOTOPE SCANNER 2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

us. Cl 346/106, 346/46, 250/7l.5 Int. Cl A61b 6/00, 001d 1 5/20 Field of Search 346/46,

105, I06, 29, 33 ME; 250/7l.5 S

Primary Examiner-Joseph W. Hartary Anorney-Richards & Geier ABSTRACT: An apparatus for isotope diagnosis or scanner has a probe for ray measuring by means of which the section being examined is checked line by line and the measured results are reproduced upon a writing material by means of a color scriber containing a printing type. A colored band with differently colored longitudinal strips located next to each other is moved longitudinally and transversely under the printing type so that markings of different colors are imprinted depending upon the results of the measurement. The invention is particularly characterized by only a mechanically sliding connection of the movable parts of the writing means with the band-moving drives attached to fixed supports, the drive of the printer of markings and the switches for varying the direction of movement of the band.

PATENTEDHHYZB ml SHEET 1 0f 2 INVENTOR. 4/. PZa't ATTOI'LNEgg,

COLOR PRINTER FOR ISOTOPE SCANNER This invention relates to an apparatus for isotope diagnosis or scanner having a ray-measuring probe for checking line by line the section being examined. The measured results are inscribed upon a writing material by means of a color scriber containing a printing type under which a colored band can be moved longitudinally and transversely. The colored band has differently colored longitudinal strips located next to each other so that markings of different colors are imprinted depending upon the results of the measurements. As is well known, apparatus of this type is used particularly for investigation of thyroid glands and for diagnosing tumors wherein radioactive substances are collected which were given or injected into the patients.

Electric devices with wiring must be used for operating the color scribers, namely, for moving the colored band, and also for selecting the color and operating the key producing the marking. Motors are mostly used for the moving of the colored band and electromagnets are used for the type. The drawback of existing constructions is that electrical connections are required for the moving parts which interfere with their motion. Furthermore, they break easily in the case of continuous movement, that is, when the bending is continuously changed. Also, motors and other drives, such as magnetic drives, consist of heavy parts which increase the mass and thus the inertia of the moving parts.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate these I drawbacks.

Other objects will become apparent in the course of the following specification.

ln the accomplishment of the objectives of the present invention it was found desirable to provide only a mechanically sliding connection between the movable parts of the writing device and the band-moving drives attached to fixed supports, the drive for the marking printer and the switches steering the direction of movement of the band.

. The advantage of this construction is that it is not necessary any more to provide conduits between movable and immovable parts, thereby eliminating a cause which may produce disturbances. Furthermore, the movable mass and thus inertia are kept small due to the arrangement of motors etc., upon immovable parts.

According to one embodiment of the invention the windings of the colored band are connected with wide gear wheels engaged through a pinion with the driving motor causing the longitudinal movement of the band, the pinion engaging alternately depending upon the direction of the movement of the band, that wide gear wheel which carries the winding being unwound. The pinion carried by the motor is a part of a type of planetary gear having a connecting gear wheel which is brought to mesh with one spool or with the other spool being wound, depending upon the direction of rotation of the motor. The gear wheels which are connected with the spools are wide in shape, so that the driving gear wheel of the planetary gear remains in engagement during transverse shifting. The motor itself is mounted in a fixed part of the casing. The width of the first-mentioned gear wheels which are mounted upon the axles of the spools corresponds at least practically to the width of the colored band. Preferably in order to further diminish their weight, these gear wheels are made of a light material, such as a stable plastic material, for example, a polyamide strengthened with glass fibers. Since the movable part is light and has small inertia, it can follow quickly the measuring results. Thus the writing can take place more quickly.

The drive for the transverse movement of the colored band also consists of a motor mounted in a fixed part of the casing. A pinion is connected with the driving shaft of this motor. This pinion meshes with a rack mounted on transversely moving parts which have a rolling engagement with the apparatus. The switch for changing the direction of rotation is also fixed upon an immovable part of the apparatus. Only the feeler which tests the thickness of the wound portion of the band is a part of the transversely movable elements. The length of the actual switch lever, as well as that of the gears etc., corresponds to the necessary transverse movement.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing by way of example only, a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

ln the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a scanner;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of two different positions of the color writing device of the scanner, some parts of the casings having been shown as broken off.

FIG. 1 shows a scanner having a box 3 serving as a container and carrier. The box 3 is vertically adjustable in a manner which is not further illustrated,by means of a sleeve 2 upon a pillar 1. A double joint fork 4 is connected to the box 3 and carries the measuring device 5 containing a ray indicator which is properly protected against ray action. The box 3 contains in addition to the electrical supply device, the drive by means of which the measuring device 5 is moved through the bogie 6 and the guide 7 over a measuring surface 8 while carrying out a remote testing line by line. A writing head 9 is provided upon the other end of the guide 7. The color writing device is located inside the head 9 behind a flap 9' which can be conveniently opened and closed. Thus the writing device is synchronously guided over the writing material 10 which is removably fixed upon the upper surface of the box 3. Operating buttons 1 l are used to operate adjusting devices not shown in the drawings and used for adjusting mechanical values, such as the testing speed, the size of the area etc., as well as for adjusting electrical values, such as closing and opening switches, sensitivity, extent of reduction etc.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show on a larger scale the color writing device 12 located in an angular casing 13 which can be inserted into the writing head 9 of the guide 7. A support 14 which is also angular in shape, a motor 15 and a motor 16 are firmly connected with the angular piece 13. The motor 16 has a driving shaft 17 carrying a pinion 18 meshing with a gear wheel 19. The axle 20 of the gear wheel 19 is fixed to a holder 21 which is rotatable about the shaft 17. The holder 21 consists of two metal sheets 22 and 23 shaped as triangles with cutoff edges. The sheets 22 and 23 are located on opposite sides of the gears 18 and 19. Thus the axle 20 is located close to a point of the triangle, while the shaft 17 is located close to the side of the triangle opposite this point and upon a line extending perpendicularly to this side from this point. Excenters 24 and 25 used for the sidewise adjustment of the holder 21 are located on opposite sides of the line interconnecting the shafts l7 and 20. A spring (not shown) is used to provide friction in the bearing location of the axle 20 of the gear 19 during the rotation of the gear 19, in order that the sheets 22 and 23, and thus the gear 19, should be moved by the rotation of the pinion 18 toward either the gearwheel 45 or the gearwheel 46 depending upon the direction of rotation of the motor 16, and be brought into engagement with one of these gearwheels. When the gear 19 is in engagement with either the gearwheel 45 or the gearwheel 46, the sheets 22 and 23 engage either the excenter 24 or the excenter 25.

A rectangular rod 26 is fixed under the motor 16 and extends parallel to the wall 27 of the angular casing 13. The shaft 17 of the motor 16 also extends parallel to the wall 27. A support 28 is-located under the rod 26 and is fixed to the wall 27. The support 28 carries the drive 29 of the marking printer 30. The printer 30 includes a driving shaft 31 the free end of which carries an angular receiver arm 32. One end of the arm 32 carries a ball and socket joint 33 which is provided with the actual printing type 34. The free end of the type 34 carries a cutter 35 constituting the actual liner printer. The printing device actuated by the shaft 31 is made of a polyamide strengthened by glass fibers. The receiver arm 32 consists of two parts 32a and 32b connected by screws or clamps. The lower arm part 32b has the hole for the joint 33 through which the type 34 is guided. The type 34 consists of the same plastic material as the arm 32 and carries the resilient steel band constituting the cutter 35. The opposite end is shaped as a ball for the joint 33. The type 34 has a rectangular outline above the cutter 35 and is guided in a support 36 which is rotatably mounted in a support 37 shown in FIG. 2. The support 37 is connected with the support 28.

A rotary magnet 38 is also connected with the support 28 and has a lever 39 connected by a rod 70 with the support 36. The operation of the magnet 38 is coupled with the switching of the apparatus and when the magnet 38 is actuated the position of the cutter can be changed.

An elongated holder 40 is mounted upon the rectangular rod 26. The holder 40 has a corresponding rectangular central passage so that it cannot rotate upon the rod 26 although it can be shifted longitudinally thereon. The lower side of the holder 40 carries a rack 41 meshing with a pinion 42 mounted upon the shaft 43 of the motor 15. A supporting plate 44 is located in front of the support 14. The end of the holder 40 which is close to the free end of the rod 26, is connected with the plate 44. Two wide gearwheels 45 and 46 are connected with the plate 44 and extend toward the support 14; their iongitudinal axes extend parallel to the axles 17 and 20. The gearwheels 45 and 46 are located on opposite sides of the gear wheel 19. In the position shows in FIGS. 2 and 3 the gearwheel l9 meshes with the gearwheel 46. The axles 47 and 48 of the gearwheels 45 and 46 are mounted in the plate 44; they extend through and beyond the plate. These axles carry resilient holders 49 and 50 (FIG. 3). Spools 52 and 53 carried by a casing 51 may be pushed over these holders (FIG. 2). When the casing 51 is pushed, the axles 47 and 48 are brought into engagement with the spools 52 and 53. Thus in the indicated direction of rotation the color band 54 will be unrolled from the spool 52 and wound upon the empty spool 53 by the drive of the motor R6. in the course of this movement the band 54 is guided along the inner surface of the narrow wall 55 to the slit 56 provided in the wall 57 and then extends past the opening 58 located close to the type 34 and through the slit 59. The band 54 then moves again into the casing 57 and extends along the wall 60 to the spool 53 upon which it is wound. The

top of the narrow casing 51 is open. The wide wall 61 of the casing 51 which is directed toward the short side of the angular casing 13, is provided with openings 62 and 63, through which the printer 30 and the tester 64 extend. The tester 64 includes a roller 65 carried by a rod 66 and swingably and resiliently pressed against the axle 47. The testing device also includes a switching plate 67 and a switch 68. A device corresponding to the tester 64 and cooperating with the axle 48 has not been illustrated to avoid confusion. This device is also located between the axles 47 and 48 and is the same as and mirror-symmetrical to the tester 64. in order to remove the casing 51, the tester rollers 65 and their corresponding mirrorsymmetrical rollers belonging to the spool 53 are swung away from the spools and then the casing can be removed while the spools 52 and 53 are pulled off the axles 47 and 48 (FIG. 3).

Parts which are connected with the plate 44 and which include the casing 51 with the spools 52 and 53 and the color band 54 are movable longitudinally in the direction of the axles 47 and 48 and of the rod 26 relatively to the parts fixed to the angular casing E3 to the extent of the color band 54. The lengths of the rod 26, of the driving shaft of the printer 30 and of the gears 45 and 46 of the tester 64 are so adjusted relatively to each other that this longitudinal movement is made possible. The longitudinal movement is carried out by the motor 15 depending upon the dose measured by the measuring head 5. Therefore, the type 34 will be located over one of the differently colored strips 54a, 54b or 540 of the color band 54 depending upon the amount of the dose. Thus different markings are imprinted upon the writing material 10 in a manner known per se depending upon the measured dose. The frequency of the markings is also made dependent upon the dose, since the printer drive 29 is also connected with the measuring head 5. When the operation is started the printer type 34 is so set by the rod' 70 that it extends perpendicularly to the strips of the color band 54. When the testing is switched off, the rotary magnet 38 is released so that the type 34 is turned to the extent of 45. Markings which are then imprinted b the release of arbitrarily selected pressure impulses will be d erent from those produced during the imprinting of measurements. Such markings will be suitable for indications which are independent from ray absorption and which may permit representation of a relationship of testing to the body.

The longitudinal movement of the holder 40 produces at the same time a longitudinal movement of the gearwheels 45 and 46 which can be shifted through the opening 69 in the casing 14. Since the gearwheels 45 and 46 are made quite long, their connection with the gearwheel i9 is not affected. In order to make certain that this connection will always take place correctly, the position of the holder 21 is adjusted by turning and fixing the excenters 24 and 25. When the direction of rotation of the motor 16 is changed, the gearwheel 19 is shifted by the gearwheel 18 toward the gearwheel 45 in a manner generally used in planetary drives. The switchover takes place from the tester device 64, when the band 54 has rolled oi? the spool 52 by actuating the switching plate 67 which operates the switch 68.

Only the motors l5 and 16 firmly connected with the casing 13, as well as the printer 29 and the rotary magnet 38 are connected with electrical conduits. Members 40 to 60, 65 and 66 which are movable relatively to the casing 13 along the rod 26 have no electrical conduits of any kind. The movable parts are merely in a mechanical sliding engagement with the fixed parts, namely, the gearwheel 19 and the switching plate 67 of the testing device 64. Furthermore, the movable parts can be of very light weight, since they can be made to greater part of a plastic material and do not include heavy magnets, etc., as is the case with motors.

lclaim:

l. A writing device for a scanner, comprising a colored printing band, driving means having two long gearwheels the length of which corresponds to at least that of the colored printing band, axles carrying said long gearwheels, a driving motor, a gearwheel and means swingably connecting the lastmentioned gearwheel with said motor and selectively engaging the last-mentioned gearwheel with one of said long gearwheels; fixed supporting means carrying said driving means, means moving said colored band longitudinally and transversely and having two spools adapted to engage said axles and to carry said band, said driving means further having a testing device engaging one of said spools; printing means operating said colored printing band and means supporting the colored band and said means moving the colored band solely for mechanical sliding movement relatively to said driving means, said fixed supporting means and said printing means.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said long gearwheels consist of a polyamide with glass fibers. 

1. A writing device for a scanner, comprising a colored printing band, driving means having two long gearwheels the length of which corresponds to at least that of the colored printing band, axles carrying said long gearwheels, a driving motor, a gearwheel and means swingably connecting the last-mentioned gearwheel with said motor and selectively engaging the last-mentioned gearwheel with one of said long gearwheels; fixed supporting means carrying said driving means, means moving said colored band longitudinally and transversely and having two spools adapted to engage said axles and to carry said band, said driving means further having a testing device engaging one of said spools; printing means operating said colored printing band and means supporting the colored band and said means moving the colored band solely for mechanical sliding movement relatively to said driving means, said fixed supporting means and said printing means.
 2. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said long gearwheels consist of a polyamide with glass fibers. 